The Town Where Guns Are a Legal Requirement: A Look Inside Kennesaw, Georgia

[Social Media]

 

In Kennesaw, Georgia, a city ordinance dating back to the 1980s requires residents to own firearms and ammunition. This unique law has sparked both pride and controversy, making the town an unusual case in the national gun debate.  

 

The law, officially enacted in 1982, states, “In order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, every head of household residing in city limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition.” Despite its broad phrasing, the ordinance includes exceptions for those with mental or physical disabilities, felony convictions, or religious objections.  

 

“It’s not like you go around wearing it on your hip like the Wild Wild West,” said Derek Easterling, the three-term mayor of Kennesaw, in an interview with BBC News. He clarified that the law is not aggressively enforced, noting, “We’re not going to knock on your door and say, ‘Let me see your weapon.’” To his knowledge, there have been no arrests or prosecutions for violating the law since its inception.  

 

Opinions about the ordinance vary. Some residents see it as a source of pride and credit it with maintaining safety in their community. According to data from the Kennesaw Police Department, there were no homicides in the town in 2023, though there were two gun-related suicides. At a local pizza restaurant, patrons argued, “If anything, criminals need to be concerned, because if they break into your home, and you’re there, they don’t know what you got.”  

 

Others emphasize that the low crime rate stems more from the town’s culture than the guns themselves. “It’s the attitude behind the guns here in Kennesaw that keeps the gun crimes down, not the guns,” said Blake Weatherby, a groundskeeper at the Kennesaw First Baptist Church. He added, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a gun or a fork or a fist or a high heel shoe. We protect ourselves and our neighbors.” Weatherby, who once owned over 20 firearms, said he now owns none.  

 

Pat Ferris, a city council member who joined shortly after the law’s passage, described it as “more of a political statement than anything.” He admitted he’s unsure how many residents are even aware of the ordinance’s existence. The law was, in part, a reaction to Morton Grove, Illinois, becoming the first U.S. city to ban gun ownership. Kennesaw’s ordinance served as a counterpoint, highlighting differing regional attitudes toward firearms.  

Other U.S. cities, including Gun Barrel City, Texas; Virgin, Utah; Nelson, Georgia; and Nucla, Colorado, have since adopted similar laws.  

 

City council member Madelyn Orochena described Kennesaw’s gun law as “a weird little factoid about our community,” adding, “Residents will either roll their eyes in a bit of shame or laugh along about it.”  

 

Based on a report by NYP 2024-01-14

 

 

 

 

[digger70]

The Town Where Guns Are a Legal Requirement: A Look Inside Kennesaw, Georgia

 

I like that ,That should be a Deterrent for Crims to break  in  houses when  people are at home/sleeping ,  

[SiSePuede419]

Virgin, Utah

The Devil Went Down to Georgia. 

 

Or Utah in a cave. 

[EVENKEEL]

This is America.

[thesetat]

great idea. This way honest citizens are protected. criminals and crazies are exempt. Wish it was this way across the country. Am sure there would be less crimes if the criminals know that their intended victim is armed to the teeth. 

[Chomper Higgot]

A town of under 35000 inhabitants boasts it has a year without any murders.

 

 

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

. “It’s the attitude behind the guns here in Kennesaw that keeps the gun crimes down, not the guns,” said Blake Weatherby, a groundskeeper at the Kennesaw First Baptist Church. He added, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a gun or a fork or a fist or a high heel shoe. We protect ourselves and our neighbors.” Weatherby, who once owned over 20 firearms, said he now owns none.  

Most here on AN, who opt for more arms for citizens, wouldn't like to admit and back this statement.

However, this is essential.

To arm every fool and idiot will not create any safety at all.

[thaibeachlovers]

Reminds me of a movie where a crook burst into a bar with a gun and demanded money from the till. Then he looked up at every patron with a gun pointed at him- he tried to rob a cop bar!

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Most here on AN, who opt for more arms for citizens, wouldn't like to admit and back this statement.

However, this is essential.

To arm every fool and idiot will not create any safety at all.

In NZ the government attempted to remove guns from all citizens. Since then, gun crime among the gangs is higher than it ever was before.

I say attempted because they only partially succeeded.

[Skeptic7]

I actually lived in Georgia for 22 years, the last 4 of which were in Kennesaw. It was and is a STUPID law and was never, ever enforced. Not even in the slightest. Not even once. Many/most folks don't even know about it. I've told a few people about this ridiculous law over the years and not sure any actually believed it. 🤣

[black tabby12345]

Gun Barrel City...

 

I have heard of Rifle County.

But my first time to know about its name.

[black tabby12345]

One universal principal.

When guns are outlawed, only outlaws(among civilians) will have guns.

But at the same time, it is kind of  bizarre sight if cops question someone for not having one.

 

 

[black tabby12345]

17 hours ago, digger70 said:

The Town Where Guns Are a Legal Requirement: A Look Inside Kennesaw, Georgia

 

I like that ,That should be a Deterrent for Crims to break  in  houses when  people are at home/sleeping ,  

 

Guns in good hands are protectors; AKA equalizers.

When thugs(especially numerical/physically  superior )break in good people's home, cops and laws won't help.

Even though I no longer owns any firearms after my settlement in this kingdom, I still support that idea.

[Lapun]

On 1/14/2025 at 4:01 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

In NZ the government attempted to remove guns from all citizens. Since then, gun crime among the gangs is higher than it ever was before.

I say attempted because they only partially succeeded.

 Well then Wikipedia has it all wrong . . .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_New_Zealand

 

The gun laws of New Zealand are contained in the Arms Act 1983 statute, which includes multiple amendments including those that were passed subsequent to the 1990 Aramoana massacre and the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.

 

Nearly 300,000 licensed firearm owners own and use New Zealand's estimated 1.5 million firearms. Gun licences are issued at the discretion of the police provided they consider the person to be of good standing and without criminal, psychiatric or drug issues; as well as meeting other conditions such as having suitable storage facilities.

 

Gun laws in New Zealand focus mainly on vetting firearm owners, rather than registering firearms or banning certain types of firearms.

 

But I suppose the truth will not stop people from spreading misinformation.

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Lapun said:

 Well then Wikipedia has it all wrong . . .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_New_Zealand

 

The gun laws of New Zealand are contained in the Arms Act 1983 statute, which includes multiple amendments including those that were passed subsequent to the 1990 Aramoana massacre and the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.

 

Nearly 300,000 licensed firearm owners own and use New Zealand's estimated 1.5 million firearms. Gun licences are issued at the discretion of the police provided they consider the person to be of good standing and without criminal, psychiatric or drug issues; as well as meeting other conditions such as having suitable storage facilities.

 

Gun laws in New Zealand focus mainly on vetting firearm owners, rather than registering firearms or banning certain types of firearms.

 

But I suppose the truth will not stop people from spreading misinformation.

Seems we have someone that doesn't know what attempted means. Were you even in NZ at the time or just copy pasting from afar.

 

Yawn.